MJS Legal
Designing a WordPress Website for a Family Law Firm
MJS Legal is a team of specialist family law barristers with a strong reputation in the community, wanting to expand their reach through a strong online-presence.
The
Challenge
The challenge was to develop a website that balanced friendliness with professionalism, effectively conveying legal information in a way that was understandable to users. The website needed to cater to users who might be navigating a difficult period, ensuring the interface was not only informative but also comforting and supportive.
The
Solution
To address this challenge, I crafted a clean, user-friendly interface that presents legal information in easily digestible formats, such as simplified language, clear navigation, and well-organized content sections. To create a friendly, comforting atmosphere, I incorporated calming colours, approachable visuals, and empathetic messaging. I also included resources to help users find information about their situation and make informed decisions. This balanced approach not only enhanced the overall user experience but also reinforced a sense of professionalism and support for those navigating challenging legal situations.
My
Role
This was a freelance web design and development project where I handled client relations, designed the website, and developed it using WordPress.
Project
Duration
4
Weeks
Tools
Used
Discover
Phase
To kick-off the project, I first sent the client a pre-workshop questionnaire to gather insights into their business objectives, target audience, services, and project goals. Based on their answers, I created a strategy deck and then conducted a 1-hour workshop to clearly define the project objectives.
Pre-Workshop
Questionnaire
Before the strategy workshop, the client completed a pre-workshop questionnaire, which allowed them to provide information at their convenience. This approach enabled us to use the workshop time more effectively, as we had already collected key details and I could prepare further questions in advance.
The questionnaire included the following questions:
What mission statement drives your brand?
What do customers complain about the most?
How does your company currently handle the issue?
What is the company focus?
Who are the users?
What does a successful company look like to you?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What problem do users have that this product solves?
What do customers like about your company?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
Strategy
Workshop
I held a 1-hour strategy workshop with the client where I presented a strategy deck that defined the project and business objectives, including goals, target audience, branding, and features.
Business Objectives
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
What are some apps that currently provide these solutions?
Define
Phase
Following the discovery phase, we moved to the defining phase, where we synthesized the insights collected to establish a clear understanding of user needs and project goals.
User
Persona
Using the data gathered from the interviews, I developed one user persona for the scholarship seeker and one for a scholarship provider. I used these personas to ensure the user’s needs were considered throughout the design process.
Age 42
Status Single
Job Title Creative Director
Income $200,000 Yearly
“Navigating this divorce feels like trying to rebuild my life from the ground up while ensuring that my child’s world remains as stable and loving as possible”
Samantha Reed
High-Net-Worth Divorcee
Personality
Behaviour
- Proactive in managing her divorce, including keeping the track of important dates, deadlines, and documents.
- Conducts thorough research on legal procedures, potential lawyers, and divorce-related topics to make informed decisions.
Goals
- Ensure a fair custody arrangement that allows her to be actively involved in her children’s lives while also considering her ex-spouse’s involvement.
- Minimize conflict with her ex-spouse to create a less stressful environment with her children.
- Fairly divide marital assets and debts.
Understand the legal aspects and processes involved in divorce.
Frustrations
- Struggling to understand the legal jargon and intricate details of divorce law.
- Navigating the financial implications of divorce, including growing legal fees, and division of assets.
Balancing the demands of the divorce process with her job and parenting responsibilities. - Feeling unsupported or misunderstood by legal professionals who may not fully grasp the emotional and personal aspects of her situation.
- Encountering delays in the legal process, which can prolong the resolution of the divorce.
- Cautious about protecting privacy and sensitive information.
Needs
- Professional guidance from a knowledgeable family lawyer to navigate the complexities of divorce law and ensure her rights and interests are protected.
- Understanding and emotional support from her lawyer, recognizing the personal and emotional challenges she is facing.
- Secure and convenient access to all relevant legal documents, case files, and updates.
Daniel Carter
Single Working Father
Age 30
Status Single
Job Title Warehouse Worker
Income $45,000 Yearly
Goals
- Secure a fair custody arrangement that allows him to be actively involved in his children’s lives and provide them with a stable home environment.
- Access competent legal representation that is within his financial means, ideally through legal aid services.
- Ensure a stable and supportive environment for his children throughout and after the legal process.
Behaviour
- Relies heavily on legal expert and community organizations for legal support.
- Open about his struggles, candidly sharing his concerns and asking questions.
- Unorganized and often finds it difficult to keep track of documents, deadlines, and appointments.
“It’s hard to keep everything organized and understand all the legal stuff, but my main focus is making sure my kids have what they need and that they’re taken care of.”
Personality
Frustrations
- Limited income poses a challenge in affording private legal services.
- Stress of the legal process, combined with his responsibilities as a single parent.
- Daniel has limited understanding of legal matters and needs clear guidance on the legal process and his rights.
- Juggling his work, parenting duties, and legal concerns is overwhelming and requires efficient support.
Needs
- Access to affordable or free legal aid that can provide the necessary legal representation and advice.
- Simple, understandable explanations of legal terms and processes to help him make informed decisions.
- Assistance with managing the legal process efficiently, including handling paperwork and meeting deadlines.
Site
Map
I created a site map during the website planning phase to establish a clear and organized structure for the site. The site map helped me visualize the hierarchy and relationships between different pages, ensuring that all key content and functionalities were included and logically arranged.
Brand
Style
Colour Palette
I chose the color palette of green, brown, and beige to align with the brand’s objectives. Green was selected for its calming and trustworthy qualities, while brown was chosen for its contrast with green, adding warmth and depth. Beige serves as a neutral background that enhances readability and provides a clean, professional appearance. Together, these colors create a balanced and inviting brand identity that is both approachable and reliable.
Typography
I chose Alice for headers due to its elegant and sophisticated feel, which adds a touch of refinement to the design. Montserrat was selected for paragraphs because of its excellent readability and its ability to pair well with Alice, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing typography throughout the app.
Design
Phase
The
Wireframes
I began the design phase by sketching Low Fidelity Wireframes on paper of the key pages. I used the initial sketches to design the High Fidelity Wireframes using Figma.
I conducted a workshop with the client to present the wireframes and the high-fidelity home page. This allowed the client to review and provide feedback on the final design along with the wireframes, which helped us avoid an additional workshop for discussing the visual design.
High
Fidelity
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